ASHALI

What if those old stories are true?  Well, in the case of "The Magic Word" it is.  There IS a word, which when used properly, can result in almost magical results.  Really.  Click here for an earlier post that explores this magical word.

I'll be nice to you IF you are nice to me, first.

"I'll be nice to you if you're nice to me first."  "How I treat you depends on how you treat me."  "I'm not supposed to like you, so I don't have to be nice to you."  There's a lot of deep rooted beliefs in those mental statements.

If those sentiments ring familiar, then it's possible that the principle teaching of the Great Master known as Jesus is not grasped, understood, let alone utilized.  That principle, known as the Golden Rule, is simply to treat others in the same manner which you would wish to be treated.  Those who get it, get it.  Those who don't, can't.

One of the profound effects of that teaching is that it is not about other people.  It is a formula for personal happiness.  The Golden Rule is all about you.  Everyone wants to be happy, to feel better in the moment.  Some succeed, many don't.  Those that don't likely think to themselves  "I'll be nice to you IF you are nice to me first."  The key point of the teaching is missed.  The "action" or energy element is placed on the other person.  You "react" to what this other person does, or does not do.  And if the other person isn't "nice" to you, then you cannot be "nice" to him.  This creates antagonism and a struggle results.  Listen to others and note how people describe their daily experience as a struggle.  It's not fate, or the gods, or capricious forces causing their struggle, but a deep seated belief that drives their thinking.

The Golden Rule is neutral.  It is the Law of Attraction applied to personal happiness.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Works great, unless you think that you are a worthless, no good, S.O. B., who has sinned, and deserves to be punished.  It you harbor a belief that you should suffer, then you will attract those who will help you fulfill your belief.  That's how it works.  Until the belief changes, nothing else can.  And, that's why there was (and remains) so much resistance to the Master's teaching.  Changing a belief can be very difficult.  My favorite quote is from John Maynard Keynes:  "When someone convinces me that I am wrong, I change my mind.  What do you do?"  If thinking differently (which is what changing belief is) is terrifying, then cognitive dissonance occurs - that miserable state of being when undeniable "facts" challenge entrenched beliefs.  Something has to give - either re-write the facts or change belief.  Changing facts is a time consuming theatre.  Changing one's thinking is often scary (venturing into the unknown, so to speak.)  How do you feel?  That's a good indicator of how effectively the Golden Rule formula is being practiced.  Is there a sense of relief when an attitude is changed? 

For the Golden Rule to be effectively applied, the fundamental question must be answered:  Who am I and why am I alive?  (There are many variations of the question, but you get the gist.)  It's important because you cannot treat anyone else better than you treat yourself.  If you believe that you are created free and with a desire to be happy, then you convey that state of freedom and pursuit of happiness to others.  In return, you attract people and situations that affirm your freedom and happiness.   The Golden Rule in action.  Yet if the answer is oppressed "I was created to serve the tribe (hive, etc.)" then that is the manner you convey to others - who are fellow servants, suppressing individualism.  It takes a lot of effort to suppress innate identity.  History recounts the massive efforts to do that by institutions, ruling class, religions, and so forth.  Simply, if you can't believe that you deserve or should be happy, then there's no way you can.  The Golden Rule will make no sense.  You will treat others in the manner you perceive them treating you.  Reaction rather than action.

One of the reasons the teaching was so revolutionary is that it presented a way to create a happier life experience as opposed to merely avoiding more suffering and misery.  Same coin, two sides.  The more dominant "philosophy" of that era was do not do to others what you don't want them to do to you.  In effect, don't steal unless you want be stolen from, and so forth.  Frankly, not a bad governing approach for a society.  There is an enormous shift in consciousness with the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  One is to reduce/avoid pain and misery.  The other is to create more happiness by deliberate thinking.  A lot of folks at the time "got it."  People still do, to this day.

The "problem" with Jesus' teaching, was that it had no need for any institution or external force, to bring about a better life for the individual.  A lot of investment had gone into religion, priesthood, social expectations, family obligations and so forth - a powerful shared belief that a  "good" life was possible only by following the rules of others.  Ignore and suppress intuition and yield to the herd.

How entrenched is the momentum of the belief that it takes an intercession from someone or something in order for a person to earn, or be worthy, of a good life?  Martin Luther had some thoughts on the matter - long after the time of Jesus - when the Church became the only way to salvation or a better life.  The whole Protest was for direct personal access to God, via the Bible.  No institution or priesthood was necessary.  The mass media of the day, the printing press, allowed courageous individuals to get the Bible translated into common language, printed, and made available to the "common man."

It can be hard to imagine, now, what a huge deal that was.  So, we can get an idea of the level of angst resulting from the Golden Rule at the time.

What is "wrong" with individual freedom and the pursuit of happiness that so threatens many?  Nothing is wrong with it.  So, practice the Golden Rule.  Use the Magic Word, Ashali, it's a good tool for directing thinking to what is truly desired.  You'll feel better.  And, isn't that what it's all about?

Managing the Moment

 There are some things we do well.  There are arenas in our lives where we feel very good – confident, comfortable – enjoying it all.

There are some arenas, however, where we feel frustrated, confused, helpless, hapless and otherwise not having any fun at all.

There are those people who have a wonderful consciousness for prosperity.  Money and such are never an issue for them and they enjoy all the delights of prosperity.  They have a great relationship with money.

At the same time, however, they may have a messy personal life which drains them emotionally and physically and is no fun at all.

Across town are those folks who have great personal relationships, wonderful family life, and a satisfying social life.  Yet they can’t balance a check book and seem to forever have money problems.

Then there are those wonderful folks who enjoy all aspects of their life and everything just seems to fall in place for them.

Most of us have parts of our living experience that are enjoyable, and some areas that alert us that we are not fully in sync with Consciousness.  And that’s okay.  If we could always “get it right” and live in full 24/7 Bliss, we’d probably be on another planet.  Planet Bliss – I’m sure it’s out there somewhere.

I had a discussion with a colleague recently who was distressed with the conundrum of being so skilled, so confident in some areas of life, but so lost, confused, and frustrated in others. 

Why do I have problems HERE while all is well over THERE, and there, and there?

Universe is very, very big and our life experience is much larger than we are typically aware.  There’s lots of room for us to experience ourselves.

It all boils down to relationships.  Not just interacting with other people, but interacting with everything.  LIFE is all about relationships.  In those areas where we have good, effective relationships, we feel the benefit.  In those areas where we stumble around, we feel that as well.

We often hear the phrase “our higher self.”  This is one relationship that is worth developing.

We create our experiences in the various arenas of our Life experience based on our consciousness.  A prosperity consciousness produces that.  A health consciousness produces that.  Varying degrees of consciousness produce the mixed results.  The point is that it is natural to have different levels of consciousness at the same moment.

It may be time to “cut some slack” and step back from dwelling on one thing or another that we are having difficulty with and listen to our higher self – our usual source of intuition.  In this moment do you want to feel good or to feel bad?  It’s a simple question.  But how do you answer?

“Why, George, I want to feel good...BUT...”

Some call it sabotage - along the lines of “the more I thought about it, the angrier I got!”  Well, then cease thinking about “it.”  Gosh, Doc, it only hurts when I press there.  Then don’t press there.

Alas, there is often a better relationship with feeling guilty (or any other variation of bad) than feeling good.   Of course I want to be happy, BUT... let me list all of the reasons why I can’t be happy...let me list those people who won’t allow me to be happy...let me list the sorry conditions I live...  Yet there are those whispers encountered urging a list of what is good right now, a list of gratitude, a listing of appreciation.  These listings evoke good feelings.

Higher Self is consistent.   Yet if we do not have a working relationship with our higher, intuitive, self, we may not only fail to HEAR this sane counsel, but may be unaware it’s even there.  There is no such thing as coincidence.  Every effect has a cause and every cause produces an effect.

On the whole we do not spend a lot of time thinking about those aspects of our life that are doing well.  That’s natural, normal!  What gets our attention are those areas that aren’t in sync with our higher self, or Consciousness.  This is certainly reinforced all around us – news, media, tv, movies, radio – all portraying what is WRONG. 

This is “news” because it’s not NORMAL.  On some instinctive level we know that such conditions/situations/experiences are abnormal, not the norm, not the usual, not a part of the plan, etc.  We focus on a hurricane because…it is rare.  We don’t focus on the usually fine weather.  Or whatever relationship is the issue.  Notice, though, that awareness of the hurricane highlights the pleasure of the gorgeous weather.

Not on the loose

Yet if we dwell on something feared, we cheat ourselves of the enjoyment of the moment and experience the moment.  It’s not some devil or villain  on the loose that robs our joy in life – it’s our own mental sabotage.  Whatever’s on our mind determines how we feel.  The disagreeable thought produces the unpleasant feeling; the unpleasant feeling reinforces the disagreeable thought, and so forth.  It’s quite possible to get so ensnared to become oblivious – feeling so bad, all the time, and totally preoccupied with the negative thought that nothing else can enter the experience.

Escape and freedom from such a vicious cycle can only happen right now.  Not later, not when, not if, but now.  And, no one can do it for you.  They may want to, sincerely, but it’s not possible.  No one can think for another.

Higher Self will allow the mind to settle on a soothing, pleasant concept.  That’s the natural “flow” we hear of.  We naturally flow towards joy unless resisted.  The resistance is attention given to the un-natural/un-normal which produces the bad feelings.  The more we look at something undesirable, the more undesirable we’ll see.  That’s just the way it works.  So, rather than jerk attention back to the negative arena when it takes a moment to dwell on something other (there’s always something more pleasant, more desirable that is accessible to thought in the moment.)

Manage the moment.  Give thanks, appreciation, for every relationship.  With your car, the television, loved ones, your job, APPRECIATE.  The area of challenge can be appreciated – become still and listen for your higher self to provide guidance on improving the situation. 

It all happens NOW.  This Moment.   Enjoy yourself, ashali.